2009

Frannie Z

 

Hoping I wouldn’t see you,

I went to gather news.

Your next door neighbor

told me that your twins

were the light of the block.

 

She asked me if I wanted her

to tell you I’d come.

I told her no.

 

Hoping against hope and good sense

that you would understand

and perhaps know,

I looked around one more time

before I left for good

as if my standing there

could draw you out

by some recondite urban magic.

 

But I figured later

It was just as well.